Irish Ports And Their Role In The Narco Game And The Perilous Road To Americas Southern Border (8/14/24)

Beyond The Horizon

Irish ports have become critical entry points for transnational narcotics groups trafficking drugs into Europe. Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in the use of smaller ports in Ireland by South American drug cartels as part of their strategy to avoid detection at larger, more scrutinized ports like Antwerp and Rotterdam.
These criminal organizations exploit the extensive maritime traffic and the relatively lower security measures at smaller ports. This has led to significant drug seizures in Ireland, such as the 2.25 tonnes of cocaine intercepted off the Cork coast and over 300 kilograms of cocaine found in Limerick. The Irish authorities are increasingly concerned about the corruption among port workers, who are sometimes coerced or bribed to facilitate the passage of these narcotics through Irish ports.
To combat this growing threat, Ireland has joined the European Ports Alliance, a collaborative initiative aimed at enhancing intelligence sharing, upgrading security infrastructure, and coordinating efforts among EU member states. The Alliance is funded with a €200 million budget, which is being used to improve the technology for scanning containers and to bolster cooperation between law enforcement and port authorities across Europe.
Despite these efforts, the trafficking routes remain highly flexible, with criminal organizations continually adapting their methods. The widespread use of Ireland’s ports highlights the broader challenge Europe faces in combating the sophisticated operations of these transnational drug trafficking networks.
In our second article...
The issue of migrants going missing while attempting to migrate to the United States is a growing concern, particularly in relation to the involvement of drug cartels. It is estimated that thousands of migrants have gone missing in recent years, many of whom are suspected to be victims of these criminal organizations.
Drug cartels have increasingly taken control of human smuggling routes, turning migrant smuggling into a highly profitable business. Migrants who are unable to pay the high fees demanded by smugglers often face severe consequences, including kidnapping, forced labor, and even murder. The violence and control exerted by cartels along migration routes, especially in areas like Chiapas, Mexico, have made it extremely dangerous for those attempting to cross into the United States.
In some cases, entire groups of migrants have been abducted by cartels, with their fates often remaining unknown. The Missing Migrants Project reports that thousands of migrants have disappeared along migration routes in the Americas, with many believed to have fallen victim to such criminal activities. The exact number is difficult to ascertain due to the clandestine nature of these operations, but the problem is significant and growing
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source:
Cartels using Ireland to smuggle drugs to Europe - gardaí
Source:
Cartels abduct more than 1,200 migrants, police chief says | Border Report